Peugeot 504 sedan
1968 – 2006

Peugeot
504

"The Lion of Africa"

Born in France, celebrated at Geneva, victorious in Kenya — the Peugeot 504 became one of the most important automobiles of the twentieth century. It won Car of the Year in its first full season, dominated African rallying, and outlived its European production run by 23 years. 3.7 million were built across six continents.

3,713,356
Total units built
38
Years in production
1969
Car of the Year
Explore Variants → Full History
Scroll
119
1969 COTY points (vs 77 for BMW)
2×
East African Safari Rally wins
5
Body styles produced
977
Rare V6 Cabriolets built

Overview

A Car of Extraordinary Character

The 504 was engineered for comfort and durability above all else. Its all-independent suspension — a Peugeot first for a rear-wheel-drive car — gave it a supple ride that proved ideal for the rough roads of Africa.

Combined with the torque tube driveshaft and rack-and-pinion steering, the chassis was considerably more sophisticated than most contemporaries at its price point. A Peugeot executive described the Pininfarina-designed body as giving the car "the eyes of Sophia Loren."

Design studies began in 1963 under Maurice Jordan. The September 1968 launch — delayed from June by the May 1968 social unrest that shut down the Sochaux factory — introduced a car that would win Europe's top award and go on to dominate African roads for four decades.

Full History Meet the Designers
Peugeot 504 Sedan

Body Styles

Five Distinct Variants

From the elegant Pininfarina Coupé to the indestructible African pickup, the 504 family covered every need across every continent.

504 Sedan
Sedan · 1968–2006

Berline (Sedan)

The foundational body style. Over 2.6 million built in Europe alone. MacPherson struts, all-independent suspension, rack-and-pinion steering.

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504 Coupé
Coupé · 22,375 built

Coupé (Pininfarina)

Two-door grand tourer designed by Franco Martinengo. Bodyshells built in Turin. Available with the PRV V6 from 1974. 1978 Safari Rally winner.

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504 Cabriolet
Cabriolet · Only 977 V6 built

Cabriolet (Pininfarina)

Open-top convertible — the most collectible 504 variant. The V6 Cabriolet, of which only 977 were made, is among the rarest French cars of its era.

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504 Break
Break · from 1970

Break & Familiale

Estate wagon with optional 7-seat Familiale configuration. Live rear axle. Became the mainstay of West Africa's cross-border bush taxi network.

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504 Pickup
Pick-up · 1980–2006

Pick-up & Safari

Commercial derivative with 1,100 kg payload. Dangel 4×4 conversion from 1981. Double-cab version in Argentina. Built in Nigeria to 2006.

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Global Legacy

3,713,356
Total Units Built

Across France, Nigeria, Argentina, Kenya, South Africa, Australia, Spain, Taiwan, and China. The last 504 rolled off the line in Nigeria in 2006 — 38 years after launch.

Production Numbers →

East African Safari Rally

The 1975 Historic Treble

In 1975, the 504 accomplished something no car had done before — winning the Safari Rally (Kenya), the Rally du Maroc (Morocco), and the Bandama Rally (Ivory Coast) in a single season. The co-driver of the Morocco victory? A young Jean Todt, who would later become Ferrari's team principal and FIA President.

Jean-Pierre Nicolas was the most successful 504 rally driver, adding the 1978 Safari and Bandama wins in a V6 Coupé. The 504 inherited the Safari torch from the 404, which had won the event in 1963, 1966, 1967, and 1968 — making Peugeot the dominant African rally marque through two decades.

Full Motorsport History →
Peugeot 504 in Africa

Africa

The Lion of Africa

Nigeria built 425,000 units over 31 years. Kenya assembled 27,000 more. The 504 Break estate became the mainstay of cross-border bush taxi routes across West Africa — Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea.

"Even if some say it's old and only good for the breaker's yard — as soon as you find some spare parts it finds a new life."

— Insa Diaw, Senegalese cabbie, driving a 504 since 2002

"Africa's workhorse."

— Los Angeles Times, 2013
Africa Story →

Powerplants

Six Engine Families

From the original 1.8-litre petrol to the legendary 2.1-litre diesel that conquered Africa, to the joint PRV V6 shared with Renault and Volvo.

Petrol
XM
1,796cc Inline-4
Power
82–97 hp
Years
1968–

Original engine. Also offered with Kugelfischer injection (97 hp).

Petrol
XN
1,971cc Inline-4
Power
93–104 PS
Years
1971–

Main petrol engine. Standard in sedan, coupé, cabriolet, break, and Dangel 4×4.

V6 Petrol
ZM
2,664cc PRV V6
Power
136–144 PS
Years
1974–1983

Coupé & Cabriolet only. PRV = Peugeot-Renault-Volvo. Shared with Renault 30 and Volvo 264.

Petrol
XC5
1,618cc Inline-4
Power
62 PS
Application
Pickup only

Entry-level pickup engine. The only 504 variant to receive this unit.

Diesel
XD88
1,948cc Indenor
Power
49–68 PS
From
1969

First 504 diesel. By 1975, 504 diesels held 65% of France's diesel car market.

Diesel
XD90
2,112cc Indenor
Power
48–65 PS
Bore
90 mm

The durability legend. Cast iron block, SOHC, repairable with basic tools across Africa.

Full Engine Details →

Design Heritage

The Pininfarina Legacy

Two masters of Italian coachbuilding created the 504 family — one for the sedan, one for the legendary two-door variants.

Sedan

Aldo Brovarone

1926 – 2020 · Pininfarina Chief Stylist 1974–1988

Brovarone designed the 504 sedan body — the result of a competition between Pininfarina's studio and Peugeot's internal team. His contribution: the distinctive rear and trunk treatment, described as giving the car "the eyes of Sophia Loren." He also designed the Ferrari Dino 206 GT and Lancia Gamma Coupé.

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Coupé & Cabriolet

Franco Martinengo

1910 – 2001 · Centro Stile Director, Pininfarina

Martinengo designed both the Coupé and Cabriolet — his final automotive works before retirement. Having joined Stabilimenti Farina in 1928 and directed Pininfarina's Centro Stile for 18 years, the 504 two-doors were a distinguished capstone. He was also a first cousin of Pope Francis.

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